It's war over food inside crocodile den at Ranchi zoo

RANCHI: Crocodiles at their enclosure in Ranchi zoo are competing for food. Two female crocodiles gave birth to 11 hatchlings in June. Now, there are 14 crocodiles in the enclosure. There were just three, some three months ago.

The younger ones are now fighting for food. The zoo authorities have decided to construct a new enclosure for them so that they have enough food for all. In the present set up some get enough food while others don't. This hampers their growth.

Zoo director A K Patra said the hatchlings need enough space to grow. "They would not grow big if they do not get enough space," said Patra. The director said he had spoken to the experts and they have also suggested that they should be shifted to a new place.

The Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park authorities have decided to construct a separate enclosure for the hatchlings. "We would construct it adjacent to the existing enclosure," said Patra.

The existing crocodile enclosure is 80-feet long and 30-feet wide. It has a pond which is huge and has eight-foot deep water. The pond is surrounded by sand beds where the crocodiles bask in the sun.

The hatchlings survive on small fishes and insects found inside the water. Some of them, who have grown, can be seen predating inside the pond. The smaller ones ride on their mother's back and search for food.

There are several occasions when the older hatchlings engage fight with their competitors for food. At times they also try to snatch away the smaller hatchlings' preys. This creates tension among them and zoo authorities feel that it is not good for their health.

Zoo vet Dr Ajay Kumar said the stronger hatchlings get more food while the weaker ones would not get enough owing to the rivalry. "In this way, the stronger ones would become stronger while the weaker ones become weaker," said Kumar.

Patra said the construction of the new enclosure would start soon. "They would be shifted to the new place by December," said Kumar.